Wichita eagle., 1887-12-27

! after her and no questions WOuld De asked;
neither would prosecute them. But all this
was of no avail gave very little attention
to business for some weeks, and was almost
completely prostrated by the blow. To ado
to our troubles my wife became indisposed
and finally lost her appetite and at last was
seriously i'll. During her delirious moments
she would call piteously for Mabel
"a consultation of physicians was held and
[ was advised to prepare for the worst. It
came about a week latcr-after many nights
of weary watching my wife fell into peace
full sluInber from which she never awolle.
The end came one fine Sabbath morning
when the church bells were summoning the
people TO worship.
MY home vas broken up. l plunged into
business harder than ever in order to stihe
and forget the effects Of my bereavements l
became reckless and lost considerable money
that ordinary caution would have prevented
Three years passed; / still lived in the old
house which had been the scene of SO much
happiness, but now was so desolate.
u was advised by friends 70 sell the prop
erty, move elsewhere and take a wife. But
! still held the memory Of my wife too sa-
cred TO think of any one else in that light.
From time TO time ] advertised in gen
eral way offering a reward for information
relative TO Mabel's whereabouts, but met
with failure in every instance.
My room in the house was on the first
or paTlor floor Immediately in the rear of the
back parlor. From be'back parlor a glass
door connected with a small veranda that
stood at the side OF the house 1t was my
habit IN warm weather to leave the doors
open in both pariors, so as TO get a cool draft
of air from the front window.
Cone night | sat mp later than usual writ
ing some letters that wished to send by the
early mail next day. / was sitting at my
desk in a little room off my bedroom. 1t was
nearly midnight, and the housekesper and
two servants were in their rooms overhead
in the rear portion of the house.
sit was very quiet: nothing but the
scratching Of my pen and the ticking of the
little clock on the mantei in the next room
disturbed the absolute stiffness Of the hour
During pause IN my writing ] fancied |
heard a slight neise at the glass door. I lis
tened and as it was not repeated | resumed
my writing. 4 few minutes later | heard
the knob OF the glass door turn softly as If
some one was trying TO get in. At the same
time / thought I saw the shadow Of a man
on the wa,ll Of the house next to mine
There hung on the wall OF my room
Winchester rife which had been my good
and trusty companion during my sharpsboOt-
ing days when | was in the Wilderness with
Gen Grant. There had been some burgla-
ries committed III our block the week pre-
viOUs and | had cleaned and reloaded the
rifle
1t was the work of a moment to cross the
room, take down the weapon. cock it, and
advance into the back parlor. It would be
certain death for the burglar if [ lhot at
him, for had picked Off many a rebel while
l was in the Wilderness, and never was
known 80 miss my slan
II stood thus for perhaps two minutes in
no little suspense VIXEN the door knob was
again tried and a head appeared just above
the edge Of the woodwork below the glass
! assumed that the burglar vas on his knees
trying the lock | Immediately called out in
loud voice:
Throw UP your hands or I'll FIRE at YOU
ana taking deliberate aim at tie head [
counted One two'-just then my finger be-
gan TO press the trigger when chiId's voice
called out: Don't fire papa; it is me come
back to you and mammal
Il dropped the ride to the floor a cold per
sDiratlon covered HE and | trembled. from
head to foot. / staggered 10 tie door and
with nerveiess fingers unlocked it somehow.
''Ghe next instant my long lost child wa
being nearly crushed in my arms and wept
the first tears OF JOY in my lie
By this time the housekeeper and two ser
wants appeared, the gas was lighted and tie
upTocr increased by one of the girls going
into Mysteries.
"A policeman came to inquire the cause of
the disturbance and was amazed when 7
grabbed him around his ample wrist and ex-
claimed, Thank Go6n When the house
keeper told him about it be rubbed his sleeve
over his eyes and said he was glad TOO, and
went ont i reporter for a morning paper
came and got the facts il the case My
Mabel had grown about a head taller She
was thinner than when she left rs three wears
before. She was ragged and dirty, but then
had her back again
''She was taken in charge by the house
keeper, who had by this time restored the
hysterical woman
PERHAPS You would like to know where
my child had been all these three long wears
lit seems that on That eventful September
day she was walking down the walk 70 the
gate expecting to meet me. Her mother being
III the kitchen ordering from the market man
a the moment, = carriage drove 10 the gate a
man got ont and said: Mabel your papa has
sent me to bring you down town. lie viii
give you some nice candy
The child SAID. " ont that be nicer and
Immediately put her hand into that OF the
man. 1t Was the work Of minute TO drive
of.
The v;llGiE ra-0o7ad The diamond cross
ana gold nocklat from her neck He after
ward for trifing sum OF money hired :.
band OF gypsies TO keep her with them
Tics" gynSies aftcrward went TO Minnesota
The child was cared COR by an old woman
They made my darling work hard Tor
tGom. y last they, in thair wnnderings,
neared Chicago, and the old woman, during
an ugly fiji oi temper, drove Mabel from the
camp. The child walked nearly three miles
to our house and arrived there II midnight
= fremble when / think how nearly I
caused 'he death OF my little Mabel She Is
now married, and is The mother of as lovely
q child a. she was herself.
Her husband is well 10 do and often iells
wilh pride Of bis wifos pluck when she, a
mere child OF years, escaped from the gyp-
sieS and walked into town in the dead Of
night and found her father
Wei, here we are at tiailatin"
A marvellous story, indeed, Mr.. Clark
sad / Let Is go IN and lubricate" and We
did-"W +. s. III Arkansaw Traveller.
The Dressing of store Windows.
KNOW Of nothing that shows a greater
diversity If taste than tie dressing Of
store windows On Nam street Some
seem possessed with the idea chat il : alb
solUtely necessary To get q sample of
every article in the store and crowd every